The 20 Most Fun Colleges In America

Wednesday

Aug 6, 2014 at 12:56 PM

Peter Jacobs

Higher education is certainly an opportunity to study and learn, but college can also be the most fun four years in someone's life. There's good reason for this — college is a time of seemingly endless parties, a constant supply of alcohol, and cherished sports teams to cheer on with fellow students.

In order to find the most fun colleges in the country, we looked at 12 categories from The Princeton Review's 2015 college rankings, combining the rankings to determine the most overall fun schools in the country.

Click here to read our complete methodology.

Many of the schools that made our list share common traits. The typical "fun" school, based on our results, is a large public university with a strong Greek life and competitive athletics.

This is not to say that these colleges are all play and no work. Many of these schools were nationally ranked for their academics as well.

Clemson University was our number one most fun college, but only appeared on five of the 12 Princeton Review lists we considered. However, while not the number one school in any category, Clemson placed in the top three on every list it was included on, including Students Love These Colleges, Happiest Students, and Students Pack The Stadiums.

#20 Miami University

Oxford, Ohio

Miami houses the founding chapters of several now-national fraternities and still maintains a large and active Greek life.

One of Princeton Review's top Party Schools, Miami students always have somewhere to party, either at a frat house or a local bar.

#19 Auburn University

Auburn, Alabama

The Princeton Review's top Jock School, Auburn Tiger football games are packed with students shouting "War Eagle" — the school's battle cry — especially during the annual Iron Bowl against rival the University of Alabama.

The most recent matchup between the two SEC powerhouses was named "Game of the Year" by ESPN following an unbelievable last minute upset by Auburn.

#18 Bucknell University

Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

A small school with a large Greek scene, more than half of Bucknell's students are in a fraternity or sorority.

With not much else to do in the surrounding area, students' social lives are pretty much restricted to campus — where there is always a lot of alcohol and someone throwing a party.

#17 University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

Lawrence has been hailed as one of the great college towns, with the city's bars supplementing KU's Greek and unaffiliated communities.

KU's co-eds gained some notoriety last year for a Twitter account featuring revealing pictures of Kansas fans' cleavage, yet another way students support the Jayhawks.

#16 Lehigh University

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Almost half of Lehigh undergraduates are part of a fraternity or sorority, and the Greek scene definitely sets the social tone for the campus.

The school takes part in one of the most revered traditions in college sports — "The Rivalry" — an annual football game against nearby Lafayette College that will see its 150th game this year.

#15 University of Wisconsin — Madison

Madison, Wisconsin

There's a lot of alcohol at the University of Wisconsin — both beer and hard liquor — and students take advantage of a small, but active Greek scene, as well as other social opportunities in Madison.

The school has historically participated in two massive annual parties — the State Street Halloween Party in October and Mifflin Street Block Party at the end of the academic year.

#14 Southern Methodist University

Dallas, Texas

A large Greek scene sets the tone for social life at SMU for most students, with fraternities often renting out spaces around the city for 18+ parties.

As students get older, they'll often start exploring off campus bars and nightlife, both around SMU and the greater Dallas area.

#13 University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

With one of the largest Greek systems in the country, UF's social scene is dominated by fraternities and sororities, as well as an intense love for Gators athletics.

When students want to party off-campus, they head to Midtown — a bar-laden area of Gainesville within walking distance of UF.

#12 University of California, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California

UC Santa Barbara has something very special that sets it apart from most other colleges: its own beach.

Whether surfing, sun bathing, or just drinking on the beach, the waterfront only adds to UCSB's social scene — especially the house parties on ocean-bordering Del Playa Drive in Isla Vista, where students predominate.

#11 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Urbana, Illinois and Champaign, Illinois

Greek life may be the main social outlet on campus, but everyone at U of I comes out for "Unofficial," a pre-Saint Patrick's Day celebration created because students were always on spring break during the Irish themed holiday.

During the rest of the year, students take advantage of the 19-years-old entry age of the bars, although you still have to be 21 to be served.

#10 Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee

Home to the happiest students in the country, according to The Princeton Review, Vanderbilt has a dominant Greek scene and large tailgates for football games.

All students celebrate the end of the academic year at Rites of Spring, a schoolwide concert held towards the end of the Spring semester.

#9 West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia

A perennial favorite for the top spot on any party school ranking, WVU ranked in the top ten for the Princeton Review's lists of Students Study the Least and Party Schools.

The school year kicks off with "FallFest" a massive concert/party on the first week of classes that welcomes students back to campus.

#8 Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Athletics make up a big part of campus life at FSU, with students flocking to support the Seminoles football team and the Marching Chiefs marching band.

Florida has good weather year round, but when it gets too hot — or just hot enough — students cool off with pool parties.

#7 Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas

KSU ranked highly in great quality of life, due in large part to the plethora of sports, both intramural and their Wildcat athletic teams.

Students head off campus to take advantage of "Aggieville" — a throwback to KSU's original mascot — which is an area of Manhattan packed with college bars.

#6 Virginia Tech University

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virgina Tech must be doing something right with their combination of an active social scene and well-loved athletics, as The Princeton Review named it one of the top schools for Their Students Love These Colleges.

Students come out in droves to support the Hokies, and Greeks can always be found tailgating on game days.

#5 University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

Last year's Princeton Review Top Party School, the University of Iowa also had the honor of again being the number one school for Lots of Hard Liquor.

Although the school is secluded, students make their own fun with an active Greek community, raucous tailgates whenever the Hawkeyes play, and lots of alcohol — both beer and the stronger stuff.

#4 Tulane University

New Orleans, Louisiana

While many colleges are proud of their signature party, can anything truly compare to Mardi Gras? Living in New Orleans, Tulane students have a front row seat to all the parties and parades — plus, no open container laws.

With one of America's great cities in their backyard, Tulane took second for College City Gets High Marks, as well as high marks for students' happiness and quality of life.

#3 Syracuse University

Syracuse, New York

Syracuse students go crazy for their sports teams — the Orange — often pushing the capacity on the Carrier Dome, both the largest on-campus domed stadium and basketball arena in the country.

Greek life sets the tone for the school's social life — propelling Cuse to the top of this year's Party Schools ranking — and the school year is topped off with Mayfest, a day-long party and concert.

READ MORE: Here's Why Syracuse Really Is The Best Party School In The Country

#2 Penn State University

State College, Pennsylvania

Penn State, last year's number one school on our list, always packed house parties and a thriving bar scene during the year, but the school really heats up on game days, when students come out to support their beloved Nittany Lions.

Although drinking traditions like State Patty's Day — a student-driven alternative to Saint Patrick's Day — have come under attack recently, it doesn't change the fact that Penn State still has an awesome mix of sports, Greek life, and a great overall social scene.

#1 Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina

When the Clemson Tigers football team enters Memorial Stadium, a cannon booms and the players run down "The Hill" onto the field, past screaming fans shouting along to the Tiger Rag fight song. It's been called the "The Most Exciting 25 Seconds in College Football."

Clemson students love their teams and their school, packing the stadium — popularly known as Death Valley. Sports aren't just for the school's varsity athletes, though, as Clemson also took the second spot in The Princeton Review's lists of Jock Schools, Students Pack the Stadiums, and Everyone Plays Intramural Sports.

Perhaps most revealing about Clemson's overall level of fun are two other categories the school took second and third place in, respectively — Their Students Love These Colleges and Happiest Students.

Want to see some more of the most fun college traditions?

The 20 Best College Traditions In The US >

See Also:

Our Methodology For The 20 Most Fun CollegesHere's Why Colgate University Is The Most Beautiful School In AmericaPrinceton Review's Top Party School List Is Out, And Syracuse University Is #1The 25 Most Famous Harvard Students Of All TimeHarvard Is Only The 7th Best College In The Country, According To Forbes